Car-coupling



No. 619,397. Patented Feb. 14, |999.

w. L. B. & '5. A. CARTER.

CAR CUUPLING.

plicatio led a 20 n My ,1999,

(No Model.) Y

9A m M if Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM I.. B. CARTER AND ELISHA A. CARTER, OF CORINTI-I, MISSISSIPPI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,387, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed May 20, 1898. Serial No. 681,225. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM L. B. CAR- TER and ELISHA A. CARTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Corinth, in the county of Alcorn and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to car-couplers, the object of the same being to simplify and otherwise improve upon this class of devices, whereby the operation of coupling will be made automatic and that of uncoupling be made convenient and without danger to the operator.

The invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure l is a top plan view of the draw-heads of two adjacent cars, showing the same in coupled position. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 isaperspective View of one of the drawheads, looking toward the front end thereof and showing the knuckle swung outwardly. Fig. 4. is a horizontal section through the drawhead with the knuckle in locked position. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the knuckle, and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the pivotally-mounted locking-dog.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The draw-heads l l and the coupling mechanism thereon are duplicates of one another and but one will be described. The front edge of the draw-head is concaved, as shown at 2, and one side thereof is formed with forwardly-proj ectin g ears 3 3, between which and to which is pivoted the knuckle 4. The said knuckle is provided with the usual engaging portion 5 and with a laterally-extending arm 6 thereon, having a beveled side edge 7. Said arm is adapted to be projected rearwardly into the recess 8 in the draw-head l when the engaging portion 5 is thrown into its coupling position. Formed in the upper side of the draw-head and extending to the extreme forward edge thereof is au open vertical longitudinal slot 9, which intersects the recess 8 and in which is pivoted at a point adjacent to its forward end the locking-dog 10. The said dog has an inclined orbeveled front edge ll and is adapted to be elevated from the top of the car by means of a chain l2, attached to the rear upper side thereof and operated through suitable connecting mechanism. The said dog when in its normal locking position is supported by the draw-head upon the lower side of the recess 8, and its upper edge lies iiush with the upper surface of said drawhead, completely closing the slot 9 and preventing the access of dirt or other foreign matter to the interior thereof.

It will be seen that when the draw-heads of the two adjacent cars are brought in contact with one another the engaging portions 5 of each of the knuckles 4. will be thrown inwardly and the laterally-extending arm 6 will be projected rearwardly into the recess 8. The beveled edge 7 on the laterally-extending arm will engage the inclined forward edge l1 of the locking-dog, will slide freely thereon, and in doing so will elevate the said dog and pass freely beneath it. When the extreme end of the arm 6 passes beyond the locking-dog, the latter will fall by gravity and lock the knuckle in its coupling position.

An important advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the construction admits of the ready use of the draw-head as an emergency-coupler. In other words, the knuckle may be turned on its pivotal connection with the draw-head and thrown outward on one side thereof, so as to leave the draw-head free from obstructions, thereby enabling the link of an ordinary link-andpin coupler to be used in connection with the locking-dog. It is often necessary to connect a coupling of the Janney type with an old car, either passenger or freight, which is equipped with the old form of link-and-pin coupling. At present this is accomplished with the aid of a coupling-pin,which is passed through ears in the knuckle of the .Ianney coupler. Should said pin become lost,mislaid, or broken, there is no way of coupling the draw-heads together. With the present invention, however, the link may be used in connection with the pivoted gravity-dog 10,

IOO

and as the link is thrust into the draw-head the dog will be lifted automatically and of itself will drop into engagement with the link, the rear and slightly-curved edge of the dog acting as a stop for preventing the withdrawal of the link. It will be noted that the distance from the pivot of the dog to the rear edge of the dog is greater than the distance from the pivot to the lower edge ofthe dog, so that the pull of the link in a horizontal direction is more nearly in line with the pivot of the dog,

top to the bottomof the draw-head cavity, the pivot of said dog being located at a-greater distance from the rear edge of the dog than its lower edge, and said dog when in its normal position lying flush with the upper surface of the draw-head, and closing said slot,of a pivotally-mounted, swinging knuckle having an engaging portion, anda laterally extending arm, the upper edge of which is beveled to coperate with the inclined forward edge of the dog, the construction adapting the coupler to be used in anernergency in connection with the link of an ordinary link-and-pin coupler, the inner end of the link being adapted to pass entirely behind the dog and its pivot, substantially as described. y

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. B. CARTER. ELISI-IA A. CARTER.

Witnesses:

W. T. MoPETERs, M. F. BAXTER. 

